Seven Hills High School - Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

Page 71 text:

lawyer who had been called to the Middle West on an important case. Edward had been planning to enter one of the large English universities, and had not wanted to come to the States. His father, however, had in- sisted. He maintained that it would add to Edwardls education to have a year of college life in America. From the very first, Edward did not like America, especially the boys and girls at the university. He con- sidered them loud and over-friendly. When he showed no signs of accept- ing any offers of friendship, they soon left him strictly alone. As his great uncle had a title and an estate in his home country, Edward felt himself superior to these boys who came from all types of families, and he did not felt. Thus he was fast becoming unpopular among his classmates. There was one exception to this-a vivacious, brown-haired, young lady. She was a cheer leader for the football team and assistant Editor of the annual. Every- body knew and liked her. Anne Lewis was her name and she was a typ- ical American girl. As Edward showed some ability for writing, he had been put on the lit- erary staff of the Annual. It was at a board meeting that Anne first talked to him and discovered some of his dislike for America. Anne was a born reformer and she now decided to take the job of reforming Edward and giving him an appreciation of America. Edward had decided to go doggedly through his first year at Miami and then present himself to his father with the information that he was definitely going back to England. He had spent much of his spare time thinking up arguments to give his father. But something changed all thatg he fell in love. She was the assistant Editor of the Annual and Edward was sure the most perfect person he had ever seen. Anne was, he thought, an ex- ceptional American. Anne, hearing the other boys joke about Edwardls famous ancestors decided to look into her own family history. While searching in the attic one afternoon, she found something with which she was sure she could con- vince Edward of Americais merits. Whereupon, the next day, she made a bet with Edward that she could prove that her family was just as good as his. To please her Edward took the bet, although he considered himself an easy winner. He wrote to his uncle in England who sent him a copy of the Hamilton family tree which went back to William the Conqueror. Anne read all of EdWard's information, which told of courtiers, brave warriors, and some titled statesmen. Then she handed him a small, worn Wiliam, 193 9 167 fl

Page 70 text:

as We had for the chutes, by holding tightly to each other, and we shot through the darkness. I still insist that we were going at least 60 miles an hour, but Daddy assures me that it was only 20 miles an hour at the most. Anyway, all I thought of as the wind rushed past me was Hwhat would happen if I fell off. Luckily no one did. On our way out, we rode along beside the wooden tubes which carry the liquid salt to the bottom of the mountain where it is made into salt as we know it. The tubes were made hundreds of years ago when Wood was the only material that could be used to conduct the salt. The salt is apt to stick to the sides of the tubes and therefore fresh water must be run through them frequently. They serve their purpose, however, and help bring the neighboring peasants their salt. Now that I am back in America and Europe is in such a state of turmoil, I am glad that I was able to see the salt mine at I-lallein, Austria. BARBARA SLADE, 1940 The Best People Three boys stood on the steps of the library building at Miami University. They interrupted their conversation as a tall, blond, young man, with some books under his arm, passed. '4Hey, Edward, shouted one, ucoming to the barn dance tonight? 56 No, thank you, answered Edward, I have some work to do. And he passed on without further comment. Why does he want to work on Saturday night?', asked another. 4'Well, all I have to say is, that he had better come down off his high horse, said the third. '6I..ord Hamilton is going to pay his respects to the King no doubt. A young girl who had watched this scene from the doorway came down the steps. uYou boys shouldn't make fun of Edwardf, she said, 'che just isn,t very well acquainted around heref' 4'But Anne, he has had plenty of time to get acquainted in two months. He just considers himself too high and mighty. I knowf' she agreed, abut he will change, I am suref' And then and there, she decided to get to know Edward better. Edward Hamilton had recently come to America. I-Iis father was a W afonp, 193 Q I 60 I

Page 72 text:

book, dated 1785. It was her great-great-grandmother's diary, kept on the long journey from Virginia to the Miami Valley. It began at the beginning of the journey westward which Elizabeth Lewis made in a covered wagon, with her husband and their three boys. Every day she had written of the hardships and dangers they had had to face from the moment they set out at dawn until they made camp at night. Pk if Dk X Pk March 13, 1785 a'Today three Indian braves, painted in a half a dozen different hues, boldly approached and stopped our wagon. The only thing that we could do was to allow them to go through our belongings, eating a good lot of our supplies, and finally making off with my cameo pin and ,lohn's silver watch, whose shine seemed to attract their eyes. As long as we allow these savages to do as they please, they seem not to harm usfl April 1, 1785 Wlloday, in a quiet spot in an unknown valley, we buried our youngest son, William Lewis, and pushed on westward. William was killed in the Indian raid two nights ago, a horrible and terrifying experience of which 1 shall not write.'7 April 23, 1785 HJohn says that if we have no more trouble with the Indians and God be- ing with us, we shall reach the Miami Valley in three weeks time. How 1 long to be settled and finished with this terrible journey, although no one knows what may await us at the end of it? The diary went on to tell of their trials when they did reach the end of their journey and how they had to live in the covered wagon until John Lewis, alone, could build a rude rough log hut for a home. It told how his brave wife stayed alone in the but while her husband went hunting and trapping. As time went on more settlers came to the little spot they had chosen for a home. A little settlement grew up. This was called Lewis- town in honor of its founder. The Lewises were typical of the early Ameri- can pioneer. This little book absorbed Edward with its day by day account of the pioneer,s life. He began to have a strong admiration for these courageous people who had done so much for their country. Edward thought of his own ancestors. If called on to make such a perilous journey and sacrifice, would they have done it? Very likely not. Aside from a few iine war- riors they were mainly courtiers and nobles, country gentry interested in YW. arm, 193 9 l68l